Russell Bellomy has torn an ACL and will be out indefinitely. He wasn't great last year -- but the alternatives have even less experience.Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

ANN ARBOR -- Michigan has a proven thing in Devin Gardner at quarterback.

But backup QB Russell Bellomy tore an ACL on Friday and will be out indefinitely, leaving no scholarship players behind Gardner. And coach Brady Hoke is scrambling for answers.

"We feel terrible for (Bellomy)," Hoke said. "You're always a little uneasy (about quarterback depth), you're a little concerned. We've got to keep Devin healthy, and we have to do a good job of developing the other guys."

Hoke named two players who will be considered for the backup role, neither of whom has played a game: Redshirt freshman walk-on Brian Cleary and true freshman Shane Morris.

Morris won't arrive on campus until the summer, so that's a one-horse race right now.

Brian Cleary

Cleary is a 6-foot-3, 199-pound redshirt freshman from Detroit Jesuit High School. He did not receive an FBS offer, although garnered interest from several Mid-American schools, Indiana, Michigan State and Michigan.

"He's very intelligent. He's smart, learns well, has a good arm. I'm not going to say he's throwing bullets, but he has a good arm, good accuracy."

What does Cleary need to hone the most this spring?

"I'd like to see him a little more accurate, a little more patient in the pocket, those kinds of things," Hoke said.

Shane Morris, shown playing for Warren De La Salle at Pioneer High School last fall, could be Michigan's No. 2 quarterback this season.Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

Cleary will be given ample opportunity during the spring to prove he's capable of backing up Gardner -- and then Morris hits campus in the summer, and that's when things get interesting.

Morris is a big-armed prospect out of Warren De La Salle who, as one of the five best quarterbacks in the country, seemingly has a promising future. Michigan likely would prefer to redshirt him, so he can have a season to acclimate to the system, then have one year behind Gardner.

If he's forced to play right away, he could be a backup for half his career.

But Hoke confirmed Tuesday that the Wolverines don't have the luxury of simply redshirting Morris. If he's the best option, it appears he'll play.

"I think we'll find that out as the season goes on," Hoke said, adding that offensive coordinator Al Borges already has reached out to Morris sine the Bellomy injury.

Is there now more pressure for Morris to show up and play right away?

"I think those expectations have already been put on Shane," Hoke said.

As for Bellomy, Hoke said he's holding up well, considering the circumstances, and will have surgery after final exams.

"He's doing fine," Hoke said. "He's disappointed, just like we all are, and we can all imagine how you'd feel. But he's doing fine."